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Auburn vs. Texas A&M
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:33 pm
Looking at the schedule this weekend, this matchup jumps out to me. I'm a bit surprised that Auburn vs. Texas A&M hasn't solidified itself as more of a rivalry since A&M joined the league.
**Both schools are very similar in the fact that they've historically had the "little brother" accusation thrown at them.
**Both schools are land-grant universities
**Both fan bases play up the whole "family" thing and I would argue both might sit at the top in terms of how much their alumni really do love their school
**Both schools are probably near the top in terms of major state schools when it comes to being politically conservative
Basically there are just a lot of similarities. Not to mention, since Texas A&M joined the conference, there has been very little separation between the two programs.
SEC Standings Since 2012:
1. Alabama (70-7 / .909)
2. Georgia (55-21 / .724)
3. LSU (48-24 / .667)
4. Florida (48-26 / .649)
5. Texas A&M (40-31 / .563)
6. Auburn (39-35 / .527)
7. Missouri (34-39 / .466)
8. Miss St. (33-39 / .458)
9. S. Carolina (33-40 / .452)
10. Ole Miss (29-43 / .403)
11. Tennessee (24-47 / .338)
12. Kentucky (23-50 / .315)
13. Vanderbilt (19-53 / .264)
14. Arkansas (16-56 / .222)
Texas A&M leads in the standings ever so slightly. However, Auburn has an SEC Title and two SEC West titles while the Aggies are lacking both. Auburn also leads the head-to-head 5-3.
Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 25:
Auburn- 90 (12th nationally)
Texas A&M- 84 (16th nationally)
Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 10:
Auburn- 46 (11th nationally)
Texas A&M- 39 (13th nationally)
Everything between these two has been very close since the Aggies came into the conference.
Do either of the fan bases view this as a rivalry at all? Where does it rank in terms of your SEC rivalries?
I'm going to guess Auburn fans will say that Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and even still Tennessee are their 5 biggest SEC rivals. Is Texas A&M approaching Tennessee at #5 or are they even lower than a rivalry like Miss St. that has been played about a million times?
And for A&M, obviously you all would say LSU is your #1 SEC rival (if you are being honest) with probably Bama at #2 I would assume. Arkansas I guess would be #3. Who's #4? Auburn or is it Missouri?
**Both schools are very similar in the fact that they've historically had the "little brother" accusation thrown at them.
**Both schools are land-grant universities
**Both fan bases play up the whole "family" thing and I would argue both might sit at the top in terms of how much their alumni really do love their school
**Both schools are probably near the top in terms of major state schools when it comes to being politically conservative
Basically there are just a lot of similarities. Not to mention, since Texas A&M joined the conference, there has been very little separation between the two programs.
SEC Standings Since 2012:
1. Alabama (70-7 / .909)
2. Georgia (55-21 / .724)
3. LSU (48-24 / .667)
4. Florida (48-26 / .649)
5. Texas A&M (40-31 / .563)
6. Auburn (39-35 / .527)
7. Missouri (34-39 / .466)
8. Miss St. (33-39 / .458)
9. S. Carolina (33-40 / .452)
10. Ole Miss (29-43 / .403)
11. Tennessee (24-47 / .338)
12. Kentucky (23-50 / .315)
13. Vanderbilt (19-53 / .264)
14. Arkansas (16-56 / .222)
Texas A&M leads in the standings ever so slightly. However, Auburn has an SEC Title and two SEC West titles while the Aggies are lacking both. Auburn also leads the head-to-head 5-3.
Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 25:
Auburn- 90 (12th nationally)
Texas A&M- 84 (16th nationally)
Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 10:
Auburn- 46 (11th nationally)
Texas A&M- 39 (13th nationally)
Everything between these two has been very close since the Aggies came into the conference.
Do either of the fan bases view this as a rivalry at all? Where does it rank in terms of your SEC rivalries?
I'm going to guess Auburn fans will say that Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and even still Tennessee are their 5 biggest SEC rivals. Is Texas A&M approaching Tennessee at #5 or are they even lower than a rivalry like Miss St. that has been played about a million times?
And for A&M, obviously you all would say LSU is your #1 SEC rival (if you are being honest) with probably Bama at #2 I would assume. Arkansas I guess would be #3. Who's #4? Auburn or is it Missouri?
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Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:37 pm to BHMKyle
We shite on them so bad one year that they fired the only recent coach to win them actual hardware.
They are too afraid of us to hate us
Edit to add: A&M’s SEC rivals in order of importance
- vaginal intercourse
- LSU (downgraded because Aggie is their Daddy now 2-1)
- Arky - close third
Just wait until Arky is good again and actually manages to string a couple of wins against us. Then you will see a rivalry. And we won’t be crying pussies with total separation from reality like LSU fans are with A&M.
They are too afraid of us to hate us
Edit to add: A&M’s SEC rivals in order of importance
- vaginal intercourse
- LSU (downgraded because Aggie is their Daddy now 2-1)
- Arky - close third
Just wait until Arky is good again and actually manages to string a couple of wins against us. Then you will see a rivalry. And we won’t be crying pussies with total separation from reality like LSU fans are with A&M.
This post was edited on 11/30/20 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:43 pm to BHMKyle
I think a big factor is exactly the items you list. They are so similar that there is not much fodder for conflict.
For the A&M-Texas rivalry, there are HUGE conflicts and differences. I always tell someone here up north that if they want to understand the difference between A&M and the whorns, take note of the fact that A&M's presidential library is GHWB the one in Austin is LBJ's.
UT is all about the typical liberal stuff and how government exists to serve. A&M is (or was) much more about business, engineering, and keeping government small. This mindset conflict permeates a significant part of the culture in Texas.
Auburn and the state of Alabama are just too far removed to have anything like that groundwork. We have it with Arkansas to some degree, but it's a good-natured rivalry, especially since we have a shared hatred of the whorns. We have it with LSU simply because of both proximity, O&G industry overlap, and that we had something of a rivalry before we got to the SEC.
For the A&M-Texas rivalry, there are HUGE conflicts and differences. I always tell someone here up north that if they want to understand the difference between A&M and the whorns, take note of the fact that A&M's presidential library is GHWB the one in Austin is LBJ's.
UT is all about the typical liberal stuff and how government exists to serve. A&M is (or was) much more about business, engineering, and keeping government small. This mindset conflict permeates a significant part of the culture in Texas.
Auburn and the state of Alabama are just too far removed to have anything like that groundwork. We have it with Arkansas to some degree, but it's a good-natured rivalry, especially since we have a shared hatred of the whorns. We have it with LSU simply because of both proximity, O&G industry overlap, and that we had something of a rivalry before we got to the SEC.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:45 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
Do either of the fan bases view this as a rivalry at all? Where does it rank in terms of your SEC rivalries?
Nope, not a rivalry. But they are the fanbase I've come to dislike the most since we joined the conference.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:47 pm to Hill Country
quote:
Nope, not a rivalry. But they are the fanbase I've come to dislike the most since we joined the conference.
Why is that?
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:47 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
I'm a bit surprised that Auburn vs. Texas A&M hasn't solidified itself as more of a rivalry since A&M joined the league.
I'd rather be playing UF or UT yearly than A&M.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:52 pm to BHMKyle
I could see how our circumstances could lead to some rivalry. Both conservative, both pro-military, both somewhat culty (ok A&M is probably the benchmark for culty).
A&M will say they're the better school, with more money in a more important state. All true.
Auburn will say that while we view A&M as a program competitive to us in a way that Arkansas or MSU are not, we don't view A&M as being a peer program (at least yet). And I think that's probably fair too.
I think this will be like LSU for Auburn. Over time pretty much any regularly competitive game in your division is a rivalry of sorts. And during some stretches (like the hard hitting LSU/AU games of the Tubs years) that rivalry can move up a notch or two. But thus far, there really isn't much between AU/A&M to get it started.
We're both polite and hospitable schools, so I think the chance of getting some bad blood via piss bombs or pushing old women down stairs or setting cars on fire is low.
A&M will say they're the better school, with more money in a more important state. All true.
Auburn will say that while we view A&M as a program competitive to us in a way that Arkansas or MSU are not, we don't view A&M as being a peer program (at least yet). And I think that's probably fair too.
I think this will be like LSU for Auburn. Over time pretty much any regularly competitive game in your division is a rivalry of sorts. And during some stretches (like the hard hitting LSU/AU games of the Tubs years) that rivalry can move up a notch or two. But thus far, there really isn't much between AU/A&M to get it started.
We're both polite and hospitable schools, so I think the chance of getting some bad blood via piss bombs or pushing old women down stairs or setting cars on fire is low.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:56 pm to BHMKyle
Pretty fair assessment by OP.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 12:57 pm to BHMKyle
In order for it to be a rivalry there has to be some level of respect between the fans. Auburn fans don't have respect for Jimbo because he was a fluffer cuck to his wife while she got jack hammered by a Gator bull.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:13 pm to Poker Dough
Not sure how you entered your response while sporting that avatar. 
This post was edited on 11/30/20 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:14 pm to BHMKyle
quote:When did this become a thing?
Auburn has an SEC Title and two SEC West titles while the Aggies are lacking both
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:16 pm to RT1941
quote:
When did this become a thing?
1992
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:38 pm to Leto II
quote:I understand that. I personally hope that they follow the lead of the Big XII and ACC (this year) and get rid of divisions. You can stick with an 8 game schedule, play 3 ever year, and rotate the other ten 5 and 5, or you could play 9 game, have 5 permanent opponents, and rotate the other eight 4 and 4. That would all everyone to play the teams that they want to play every year, and rotate you through the entire league in a four year span so that there is some sense of being in the same conference for schools that, right now, we just don't see very often.
I'd rather be playing UF or UT yearly than A&M.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:41 pm to Ag Zwin
This all makes sense.
I think another thing might be a lack of great games in which there was a lot of hype going into the game. I just noticed that since 2012, one of the two teams has been ranked every single time they've played, yet BOTH teams were ranked only twice:
2012: #22 A&M at NR AU
2013: #24 AU at #7 A&M
2014: NR A&M at #3 AU
2015: NR AU at #25 A&M
2016: #17 A&M at NR AU
2017: #16 AU at NR A&M
2018: #25 A&M at NR AU
2019: #8 AU at #17 A&M
2020: #5 A&M at NR AU
Auburn is 2-0 in both of the bigger games in which both teams came into the contest ranked in the Top 25.
I think another thing might be a lack of great games in which there was a lot of hype going into the game. I just noticed that since 2012, one of the two teams has been ranked every single time they've played, yet BOTH teams were ranked only twice:
2012: #22 A&M at NR AU
2013: #24 AU at #7 A&M
2014: NR A&M at #3 AU
2015: NR AU at #25 A&M
2016: #17 A&M at NR AU
2017: #16 AU at NR A&M
2018: #25 A&M at NR AU
2019: #8 AU at #17 A&M
2020: #5 A&M at NR AU
Auburn is 2-0 in both of the bigger games in which both teams came into the contest ranked in the Top 25.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 1:56 pm to Hill Country
quote:
Nope, not a rivalry. But they are the fanbase I've come to dislike the most since we joined the conference.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 2:00 pm to BHMKyle
That 2013 game opened our eyes about how bad officiating is in the SEC.
This post was edited on 11/30/20 at 2:01 pm
Posted on 11/30/20 at 2:07 pm to twk
quote:
I personally hope that they follow the lead of the Big XII and ACC (this year) and get rid of divisions.
I like this idea. I'd like to see the SEC move to 9-game conference schedules plus a rule of playing at least 2 Power Five OOC opponents. Each team can play one cupcake per year, but I'd also eliminate all games against the FCS division.
I think 3 annual opponents to protect rivalries is sufficient. You would then rotate the other 6 opponents. Under this format, you'd play your 3 annual rivals every season (5 home, 5 away), and you'd play every other team in the conference 6 times during the ten seasons (3 home, 3 away).
Every senior class would play every team in the SEC at least twice, and they'd play in every stadium at least once.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 2:11 pm to twk
quote:That's close to what I proposed before this season's SEC-only schedule was announced.
I understand that. I personally hope that they follow the lead of the Big XII and ACC (this year) and get rid of divisions. You can stick with an 8 game schedule, play 3 ever year, and rotate the other ten 5 and 5, or you could play 9 game, have 5 permanent opponents, and rotate the other eight 4 and 4. That would all everyone to play the teams that they want to play every year, and rotate you through the entire league in a four year span so that there is some sense of being in the same conference for schools that, right now, we just don't see very often.
I favor the 9-game, 5 permanent opponent schedule. Still have room for 3 OOC games, perhaps you could work out a deal with the ACC to match up the rest of the conference with permanent OOC opponents like UGa/GT, UK/Louisville USC/Clemson, and UF/FSU. To wit:
Bama vs Miami
AU vs VPI
Arky vs Duke
LSU vs Syracuse
Ole Miss vs BC
MSU vs NC State
Mizzou vs UVa
TAMU vs Pitt
UT vs UNC
Vandy vs Wake
I don't have a problem with scheduling two cupcakes, or even an FCS school in a 12-game schedule. A big payday goes a long way to fund the lesser conferences.
I also wouldn't object to doing away with the SECCG, but I assume the revenue is just too great. To be honest it seems anticlimactic most years, and has the potential to eliminate an otherwise deserving team from the CFP.
This post was edited on 11/30/20 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 11/30/20 at 2:13 pm to FearlessFreep
At this point, Georgia is as much of a little brother as anyone.
Posted on 11/30/20 at 2:15 pm to Hill Country
quote:
Nope, not a rivalry. But they are the fanbase I've come to dislike the most since we joined the conference
thats a shame...sounds like a "you" problem
This post was edited on 11/30/20 at 2:16 pm
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